SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — If you track your children’s location using tech, you’re not alone. A 2024 survey by Pew Research Center found that one in four parents monitor their kids’ whereabouts using GPS.
But is that private data safe? Consumer Reports evaluated 15 popular kid-tracking devices, and here’s what they found.
Overall, Apple’s AirTags and Apple Watches, eufy’s SmartTrack Link, and Garmin’s Bounce performed well when it came to privacy and data security.
If you’re considering a device for your kid, Consumer Reports recommends choosing one that uses multi-factor-authentication so that not just anyone can log in to the device.
Parents should also take the time to read the documentation that comes with the device, including privacy disclosures, and go through the settings menu when first using it to make sure you’re comfortable with what’s being tracked.
Finally, Consumer Reports says you should talk to your kids and let them know what information is being shared with you, the parent, to establish trust and emphasize safety.
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Cookies, you’ll remember, are those little pieces of code that websites use to track your activity across the internet. It’s how advertisers are able to target you with products they know you’re interested in because they know how you spend your time online.
Chrome, the world’s most popular browser, was going to lead the charge by blocking third-party cookies by default. Instead, it came up with an alternative, called Privacy Sandbox, which would let marketers measure and target ads without directly spying on anyone.
In a blog post full of corporate phrasing—ecosystem feedback, interoperable attribution standards, and collaboration with stakeholders—Google announced that it’s retiring almost every piece of Privacy Sandbox. Topics, Attribution Reporting, Protected Audience, IP Protection, Shared Storage, SDK Runtime—are all deprecated. What’s left are a few technical odds and ends like CHIPS and FedCM, and some vague promises about “continuing engagement.”
That’s a polite way of saying Google is giving up.
The thing is, Google was the only company that could have forced the web to change. More specifically, it’s the only company that could have forced the internet to respect your privacy. If Google flipped the switch, the rest of the web would have to adapt.
The reason it isn’t is more complicated than you might think. It’s not that Google is maintaining cookies so it can continue tracking what you do online. It doesn’t have to—it already knows basically everything about its users because they literally type the thing they’re looking for into Google’s search box.
Killing cookies wouldn’t hurt Google’s data business. It would, however, hurt everyone else’s. And that’s a big problem.
If Chrome had actually followed through and killed cookies, it would have devastated the entire ad-tech ecosystem. Independent publishers would lose revenue overnight. Smaller ad platforms would vanish. Every marketer would rush to Google’s first-party systems—Search, YouTube, Display—because they’d be the only places left where personalization and measurement still worked.
In other words, fixing privacy would have made Google’s dominance unavoidable. Killing off third-party cookies would have meant killing the competition.
That seems like it would be great for Google, but using Chrome to make it impossible for the rest of the ad industry to target customers would have just confirmed everyone’s worst fears about its power.
There is another reason, which is that hardly anyone really cared. Sure, they did at first. The idea that Google was going to eliminate cookies as a form of tracking seemed great for consumers. But, over time, as Google slowly backed off its plans, no one really made a big deal.
It turns out, most people just click “accept all cookies” to get to the next page. After a decade of headlines about data breaches and tracking scandals, the average user is numb.
We say we want control over our data, but really, we just use the internet without really thinking about it. Google figured that out long ago. It didn’t take much to see that the outrage had faded. Or, at least, to see that the outrage wasn’t actually reflected in the behavior of most users.
And, so, third-party cookies will stay. Chrome will keep talking about “user choice,” and advertisers will keep tracking people in slightly more polite ways.
Google, for its part, will keep doing what it does: printing money. It’s already the most successful advertising platform in the world. That’s because it has what is probably the single greatest business model in the history of the internet, and nothing about cookies was going to change that.
I used to think that Google decided that making the internet respect our privacy was too hard. It turns out, it just realized long ago that most people don’t think it’s actually worth caring about.
The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.
Smartwatches do more than just track your steps and deliver phone alerts to your wrist. The best smartwatches go even further, giving you the ability to pay for a cup of coffee, take calls and connect to apps like Spotify all without whipping out your smartphone.
Chances are, if you’re reading this, you already know all of the benefits of a smartwatch. You’re ready to invest, or upgrade from an aging accessory, but we wouldn’t blame you if you if you didn’t know where to start. There are dozens of smartwatches available now, including GPS running watches, fitness trackers that look like smartwatches and multi-purpose devices. Plus, you’ll want to consider factors like durability, battery life and operating system before you spend a lot of money on a new wearable. We’ve tested and reviewed most major smartwatches available today and these are our top picks.
Table of contents
Best smartwatches of 2025
Cherlynn Low for Engadget
Tracks: Sleep, activity, calories, stress | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Cellular (optional) | GPS: Yes, built in | Water resistant: Yes | Assistant support: Siri | Display: Always-on, wide-angle OLED touchscreen | Weight: 37.8 grams | Battery life: 24 hours
Apple didn’t add too many new features to the Watch Series 11 that would drastically change your daily experience with it, but it did make one crucial improvement: battery life. The Series 11 lasts longer than its predecessor, meaning you can not only get about one and a half days depending on your use, but also squeeze out more juice in low power mode or for your outdoor runs with GPS enabled.
The Series 11 has basically the same thin and light design as the Series 10, which is comfortable enough to wear out on the streets and between the sheets. Its Sleep Score makes it easier to understand how to improve your rest, while background tools like high blood pressure alerts or blood oxygen measurements help keep tabs on your wellbeing and alert you to anomalies.
Ultimately, for those using an iPhone, there is no better smartwatch. And even without Apple’s walled garden giving it an edge, the Series 11 is still one of the best smartwatches around thanks to its overall package of communications, health and wellness tools.
It only took three iterations, but Google finally got it right with the Pixel Watch 3. It’s the most fully realized Pixel Watch yet, and one that any Android fan would get a lot of use out of. The latest model, which now comes in 41mm and 45mm sizes, has a slightly larger circular display that’s brighter than ever and can reach up to a 60Hz refresh rate. It can also drop down to just 1 nit of brightness when you’re wearing it to sleep, which not only makes for a better experience overall, but also contributes to its longer battery life. You’ll get up to 24 hours out of the Pixel Watch 3, which is a big improvement over the previous generation and more in line with competing devices from Apple and Samsung.
The Pixel Watch 3 is also a great activity tracking device, with features like auto workout detection and custom running plans, plus the ability to track metrics like Cardio Load. There’s Fitbit smarts in here, just like in previous Pixel Watches, so you’re covered when it comes to daily workouts, steps, sleep and more. The only downside to this is that if you’re interested in more in-depth coaching, those features are hidden behind the Fitbit Premium paywall.
While Wear OS 5 could use a bit more polish, the integration with the Google Assistant on the Pixel Watch 3 is handy so you can use voice commands to check on things like weather forecasts, calendar alerts, map directions and more. We also appreciate the addition of faster charging on the Pixel Watch 3, so you can go from 0 to 100 in a bit less time than before. That’ll come in handy if you’re really keen on using the watch as a sleep tracker. Overall, the improvements Google made in this edition of the Pixel Watch helped push it over the edge as a worthy competitor to the Apple Watch and a top pick for Android users looking for their next wearable.
Tracks: Sleep, activity, calories, stress, dozens of workouts | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ANT+ | GPS: Yes, built in | Water resistant: Yes | Assistant support: None | Display: 1.2-inch AMOLED with optional always-on mode | Weight: 39 grams | Battery life: 11 days in smartwatch mode, 19 hours in GPS mode
Garmin is known for its prowess in the world of fitness watches and the Garmin Forerunner 165 is the watch I tested that I wanted to wear the most when I went out for a run. The expertise of the Forerunner line is in the name, and Garmin truly excels at making comprehensive yet friendly GPS running watches in flavors that will suit all kinds of athletes, from beginner to expert. The Forerunner 165 stands out with its lightweight design, bright AMOLED touchscreen, straightforward button controls, accurate built-in GPS and its ability to track workout stats just as well as all-day activity data.
Starting a run with the Forerunner 165 is as easy as pressing a single button — the top-right button on the case literally has “run” embossed onto it, and it takes you to the workout profile menu where you can choose the exercise you want to track. Run is the first option, but you have more than 25 profiles to choose from including track run, treadmill, walk, strength, swim and more. When running outside, the GPS took an average of 15-20 seconds to lock onto my location, but you don’t have to wait for it to do so — press the run button again to begin and the GPS will catch up on its own.
The Forerunner experience has benefited greatly from the continuous improvement of the Garmin Connect mobile app. The previously clunky, confusing app has been well refined so that you can customize its homepage the workout and activity stats you care about the most, including things like Body Battery, Sleep Score, menstrual cycle information and more. It’s easy to dive into your most recently tracked activity and get in the weeds with pace, cadence, training effect (aerobic or anaerobic), power and stamina stats.
Garmin puts the battery life of the Forerunner 165 at 11 days in smartwatch mode, and I found that to be mostly accurate even with a handful of GPS-tracked runs thrown in. The company claims you’ll get up to 19 hours of battery life with continuous GPS use, which should be enough for most runners and athletes competing in long-haul races. You can also get the 165 with music storage built in or not, with the former allowing you to store music locally on the watch so you can listen with a pair of Bluetooth headphones.
The Garmin Forerunner 165 will set you back $250 without music storage, or $300 for the model with music storage built in. That’s on the lower end of the price spectrum for GPS running watches; you could easily spend $500 or more if you’re unsure about what you need and what’s just extra fluff. While Garmin does have a few cheaper devices, the Forerunner 165 strikes the right balance of feature set and price that will appeal to seasoned runners and those who are just diving into a more regimented running routine.
Samsung completely redesigned its wearable for 2025. The Galaxy Watch 8 looks cleaner and more sophisticated — but more importantly, it’s far more comfortable. Another hardware improvement bumps up the battery size, fixing one of the Galaxy Watch 7’s biggest flaws. With that watch, the always-on display tanked the battery, but now you can get a full day and then some while wearing it.
With Wear OS 6, the watch gains a new tiles-based interface that makes navigating quick and easy. It also adds the assistance of Gemini, which can help you control functions and complete tasks on your watch just by saying, “Hey Google” (just note that you’ll need a Gemini-compatible phone nearby).
Health and fitness additions include an antioxidant levels metric and vascular load, which may help some people keep better tabs on their health. An AI-fueled running guidance “coach” takes an assessment of your jogging abilities and tailors a program to help you run further and faster. We think this will probably benefit beginner runners the most — those accustomed to coaching may not find it as useful.
Of course, this is only a good choice for Samsung phone users. And another drawback is the raised glass screen, which seems destined for damage. But we will note that you can avoid that risk (and score some serious heritage-watch style points) by going with the Classic variant of the watch. — Amy Skorheim, Senior Reporter
Pros
Remarkably comfortable fit
Tiles interface is snappy
New antioxidant level and vascular load health metrics may help users keep an eye on their health
Yes, there are still companies out there trying to make “fashionable” hybrid smartwatches. Back when wearables were novel and generally ugly, brands like Fossil, Michael Kors and Skagen found their niche in stylish smartwatches that took cues from analog timepieces. You also have the option to pick up a “hybrid” smartwatch from companies like Withings and Garmin – these devices look like classic wrist watches but incorporate some limited functionality like activity tracking and heart rate monitoring. They remain good options if you prefer that look, but thankfully, wearables made by Apple, Samsung, Fitbit and others have gotten much more attractive over the past few years.
Ultimately, the only thing you can’t change after you buy a smartwatch is its case design. If you’re not into the Apple Watch’s squared-off corners, all of Samsung’s smartwatches have round cases that look a little more like a traditional watch. Most wearables are offered in a choice of colors and you can pay extra for premium materials like stainless steel for extra durability. Once you decide on a case, your band options are endless – there are dozens of first- and third-party watch straps available for most major smartwatches, and for both larger and smaller wrists, allowing you to change up your look whenever you please.
Factors to consider before buying a smartwatch
Compatibility
Apple Watches only work with iPhones, while Wear OS devices play nice with both iOS and Android phones. Smartwatches made by Samsung, Garmin, Fitbit and others are also compatible with Android and iOS, but you’ll need to install a companion app on your smartphone.
The smartwatch OS will also dictate the type and number of third-party apps you’ll have access to. Many of these aren’t useful, though, making this factor a fairly minor one in the grand scheme of things.
Price
The best smartwatches generally cost between $300 and $400. Compared to budget smartwatches, which cost between $100 and $250, these pricier devices have advanced operating systems, communications, music and fitness features. They also often include perks like onboard GPS tracking, music storage and NFC, AMOLED displays, and long battery life, things that budget devices generally don’t have.
Some companies make specialized fitness watches: Those can easily run north of $500, and we’d only recommend them to serious athletes. Luxury smartwatches from brands like TAG Heuer and Hublot can also reach sky-high prices, but we wouldn’t endorse any of them. These devices can cost more than $1,000, and you’re usually paying for little more than a brand name and some needlessly exotic selection of build materials.
Battery life
Battery life remains one of our biggest complaints about smartwatches, but there’s hope as of late. You can expect two full days from Apple Watches and most Wear OS devices. Watches using the Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor support extended battery modes that promise up to five days of battery life on a charge — if you’re willing to shut off most features aside from, you know, displaying the time. Other models can last five to seven days, but they usually have fewer features and lower-quality displays. Meanwhile, some fitness watches can last weeks on a single charge. If long battery life is a priority for you, it’s worth checking out the watch’s specs beforehand to see what the manufacturer estimates.
Communication
Any smartwatch worth considering delivers call, text and app notifications to your wrist. Call and text alerts are self explanatory, but if those mean a lot to you, consider a watch with LTE. They’re more expensive than their WiFi-only counterparts, but cellular connectivity allows the smartwatch to take and receive phone calls, and do the same with text messages, without your device nearby. As far as app alerts go, getting them delivered to your wrist will let you glance down to the watch face and see if you absolutely need to check your phone right now.
Fitness tracking
Activity tracking is a big reason why people turn to smartwatches. An all-purpose timepiece should function as a fitness tracker, logging your steps, calories and workouts, and most of today’s wearables have a heart rate monitor as well.
Many smartwatches’ fitness features include a built-in GPS, which is useful for tracking distance for runs and bike rides. Swimmers will want something water resistant, and thankfully most all-purpose devices now can withstand at least a dunk in the pool. Some smartwatches from companies like Garmin are more fitness focused than others and tend to offer more advanced features like heart-rate-variance tracking, recovery time estimation, onboard maps and more.
Health tracking on smartwatches has also seen advances over the years. Both Apple and Fitbit devices can estimate blood oxygen levels and measure ECGs. But the more affordable the smartwatch, the less likely it is that it has these kinds of advanced health tracking features; if collecting those kinds of wellness metrics is important to you, you’ll have to pay for the privilege.
Music
Your watch can not only track your morning runs but also play music while you’re exercising. Many smartwatches let you save your music locally, so you can connect wireless earbuds via Bluetooth and listen to tunes without bringing your phone. Those that don’t have onboard storage for music usually have on-watch music controls, so you can control playback without whipping out your phone. And if your watch has LTE, local saving isn’t required — you’ll be able to stream music directly from the watch to your paired earbuds.
Displays
Most wearables have touchscreens and we recommend getting one that has a full-color touchscreen. Some flagships like the Apple Watch have LTPO displays, which stands for low-temperature polycrystalline oxide. These panels have faster response times and are more power efficient, resulting in a smoother experience when one interacts with the touchscreen and, in some cases, longer battery lives.
You won’t see significant gains with the latter, though, because the extra battery essentially gets used up when these devices have always-on displays, as most flagship wearables do today. Some smartwatches have this feature on by default while others let you enable it via tweaked settings. This smart feature allows you to glance down at your watch to check the time, health stats or any other information you’ve set it to show on its watchface without lifting your wrist. This will no doubt affect your device’s battery life, but thankfully most always-on modes dim the display’s brightness so it’s not running at its peak unnecessarily. Cheaper devices won’t have this feature; instead, their touchscreens will automatically turn off to conserve battery life and you’ll have to intentionally check your watch to turn on the display again.
NFC
Many new smartwatches have NFC, letting you pay for things without your wallet using contactless payments. After saving your credit or debit card information, you can hold your smartwatch up to an NFC reader to pay for a cup of coffee on your way home from a run. Keep in mind that different watches use different payment systems: Apple Watches use Apple Pay, Wear OS devices use Google Pay, Samsung devices use Samsung Pay and so forth.
Apple Pay is one of the most popular NFC payment systems, with support for multiple banks and credit cards in 72 different countries, while Samsung and Google Pay work in fewer regions. It’s also important to note that both NFC payment support varies by device as well for both Samsung and Google’s systems.
Other smartwatches our experts tested
Apple Watch Ultra 3
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is probably overkill for most people, but it has a ton of extra features like extra waterproofing to track diving, an even more accurate GPS and the biggest battery of any Apple Watch to date. Apple designed it for the most rugged among us, but for your average person, it likely has more features than they’d ever need. If you’re particularly clumsy, however, its high level of durability could be a great reason to consider the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
Apple Watch SE 3
The Apple Watch SE 3 is less feature-rich than the flagship model, but it will probably suffice for most people. We actually regard the Watch SE as the best smartwatch option for first-time buyers, or people on stricter budgets. The gap has narrowed between the SE 3 and Apple’s main flagship smartwatch, too, so you won’t have to make as many compromises.
Garmin Forerunner 745
Garmin watches in general can be great options for the most active among us. The Garmin Forerunner 745 is an excellent GPS running watch for serious athletes or those who prize battery life above all else. When we tested it, we found it to provide accurate distance tracking, a killer 16-hour battery life with GPS turned on (up to seven days without it) and support for onboard music storage and Garmin Pay.
Amazfit Bip 6
The Amazfit Bip 6, an $80 smartwatch from Zepp Health, didn’t quite make the cut. As a fitness tracker, it’s decent, but it’s a frustrating smartwatch. For workouts, the built-in GPS tracks runs and rides without your phone and, combined with the heart rate and blood oxygen sensors, collects a good amount of data to create accurate pictures of your exertion levels, cadence and pace. It’s remarkably lightweight but doesn’t feel cheap and the AMOLED screen is bright and sharp. It’s not an always-on display, but lifting your wrist wakes it reliably.
The sleep tracking data is on par with what we measured on other smartwatches and there’s even a daily readiness score that compares your sleep quality and the previous day’s exertion to estimate how physically prepared you are for the day ahead — similar to what Pixel Watches, Fitbit devices and Garmin watches offer. And since the watch battery lasts for over a week on a charge, you may be a lot more apt to wear it to bed than a watch you have to charge daily.
We weren’t expecting an $80 device to be a serious Apple Watch challenger, but the Bip 6’s glitches and overly complicated interface (both on the app and on the watch itself) were disappointing. During a week of testing, I got multiple repeated notifications, even after they were deleted, along with suggestions to stand when I was actively doing chores around the house. The watch faces are not customizable, so it was hard to get the info I needed at a glance (the Zepp app has lots of paid watch faces that may have what I wanted, but I didn’t want to pay $3 for something that’s free elsewhere).
Marketing details state that the Bip 6 can auto-detect workouts, including walking and bike riding. During testing, I walked once or twice per day for over one mile and went on two bike rides, but no workout was ever detected. The watch integrates with Apple Health, so I was able to see how it compares to the data my Apple Watch gathers. After a week of wearing the Bip 6, with no changes to my daily routine, I averaged 400 fewer calories burned and 2.4 fewer miles tracked each day. That was possibly the biggest disappointment of all. — Amy Skorheim, Senior Reporter
Smartwatch FAQs
Is there a difference between a smartwatch and a fitness tracker?
While smartwatches and fitness trackers share some similarities, they’re designed for slightly different purposes.
A fitness tracker is primarily focused on health and activity tracking. It keeps tabs on your steps, heart rate, sleep and workouts, and some even offer advanced metrics like blood oxygen levels and stress tracking. Fitness trackers are generally more compact, have longer battery life and are built with activity in mind.
A smartwatch, on the other hand, is like a mini smartphone on your wrist. It offers fitness tracking features, but also lets you do things like reply to texts, take calls, use apps and control smart home devices. Many smartwatches support voice assistants, mobile payments and even LTE connectivity, so you can leave your phone behind in some cases.
If you mainly want health and activity tracking with long battery life, a fitness tracker is the way to go. If you want a more connected experience with extra features, a smartwatch is the better choice.
How long do smartwatches last?
How long a smartwatch lasts mostly depends on two things: battery life and overall durability.
Smartwatch battery life varies a lot depending on the brand, features and how you use it. Basic models with e-ink displays or monochrome screens can last a week or more, while full-featured smartwatches like the Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch usually need a charge every day or two. If you’re using features like always-on display, GPS tracking or LTE connectivity, expect the battery to drain faster.
Physically, a good smartwatch should last several years before you need to upgrade. Premium models with scratch-resistant glass, water resistance and strong build materials tend to hold up well over time. However, software support matters too — brands like Apple and Samsung typically provide updates for at least a few years, while some budget smartwatches may not get long-term software support.
You can expect to charge most smartwatches daily or every few days, and if you take care of them, they should last 3-5 years before an upgrade is necessary.
How much should you spend on a smartwatch?
How much you should spend on a smartwatch depends on what features you need and how often you plan to use it.
If you just want the basics — step tracking, notifications, heart rate monitoring and basic fitness tracking — you can find some solid budget-friendly options from brands like Amazfit, Fitbit and some Wear OS models. These usually have decent battery life but may lack premium features like LTE, advanced health tracking or third-party apps.
In the mid-range smartwatch price bracket, you’ll find popular models like the Apple Watch SE and Fitbit Versa series. These offer a good mix of fitness tracking, smart features and design quality. You’ll get better build materials, more accurate sensors and app support, but battery life might still be limited to a day or two.
High-end smartwatches like the Apple Watch Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra and Garmin Fenix/Epix series offer advanced health tracking, rugged designs, LTE connectivity and longer software support. These are great for serious athletes, outdoor adventurers, or anyone who wants the latest and greatest features.
If you just want a simple smartwatch for notifications and fitness tracking, a budget or mid-range model will do the job. But if you want a premium feel, advanced health tracking or LTE connectivity, it’s worth spending a bit more. For most people, $200 – $350 hits the best balance of features and value.
Do all smartwatches have GPS?
Not all smartwatches have built-in GPS. Some rely on your phone’s GPS, while others have it built-in for independent tracking.
High-end and fitness-focused smartwatches, like the Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch and Garmin models have their own built-in GPS. This means they can track your runs, walks, bike rides and hikes without needing to be connected to your phone. It’s a must-have for serious athletes or anyone who wants accurate location tracking without carrying a phone.
Some budget and mid-range smartwatches (like some Fitbit and Amazfit models) don’t have built-in GPS but can use your phone’s GPS when connected via Bluetooth. This works fine if you usually carry your phone while working out, but it’s less convenient if you prefer to leave it behind.
Some very basic or budget smartwatches skip GPS entirely and rely solely on step tracking or motion sensors. These are fine for casual users who don’t need location tracking.
Can you leave your phone at home and still use a smartwatch?
Yes, but it depends on the smartwatch and what you want to do without your phone.
If your smartwatch has LTE or cellular connectivity , you can make calls, send texts, stream music, use maps and even access apps without your phone nearby. However, you’ll need a separate data plan from your carrier, which usually comes with an extra monthly cost.
Even without LTE, some smartwatches can still do plenty on their own, including track workouts and GPS routes (if they have built-in GPS), play music offline (if they support downloads from Spotify or Apple Music), may contactless payments with features like Apple Pay and Google Wallet and control smart home devices.
If going phone-free is important to you, look for a smartwatch with LTE and built-in GPS for the best experience.
Can a smartwatch make calls without a phone?
Yes, a smartwatch can make calls without a phone — but only if it has the right features.
Some smartwatches have built-in LTE connectivity, meaning they can work independently from your phone. You can make and receive calls, send texts, stream music and use apps as long as you have a mobile data plan for the watch. However, you’ll need to pay for a separate cellular plan and battery life drains faster when using LTE.
If your smartwatch doesn’t have LTE, it can still make calls, but only when connected to your phone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. It essentially acts as a remote speaker and microphone for your phone’s calls. Watches like the standard Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch (Wi-Fi versions) can do this. However, if your phone isn’t nearby or connected to Wi-Fi, calling won’t work.
Some fitness-focused smartwatches (like certain Garmin, Fitbit and Amazfit models) don’t have a built-in speaker or microphone, so they can’t make or receive calls at all — only show notifications.
If calling without a phone is a must, make sure to choose an LTE model with a built-in mic and speaker.
What’s the difference between an Android and Apple smartwatch?
The biggest difference between Android and Apple smartwatches comes down to compatibility, features and ecosystem integration.
Apple smartwatches (Apple Watch) only work with iPhones. If you have an Android phone, you can’t use an Apple Watch at all. Android smartwatches (Wear OS, Samsung Galaxy, Garmin etc.) mostly work with Android phones, but some also support iPhones with limited features. If you have an iPhone, the Apple Watch is the best choice. If you have an Android phone, go for a Wear OS or Samsung Galaxy Watch.
Apple Watch (watchOS) has the best app support with seamless integration into Apple’s ecosystem (iMessage, FaceTime, Apple Pay, Apple Fitness+, Siri etc.). Android smartwatches offer more variety, with access to Google services (Google Assistant, Google Wallet and Google Maps), and some support Amazon Alexa or Samsung’s Bixby.
In terms of design, Apple Watch has a single design but comes in different sizes and materials. It’s sleek, but your only real customization comes from bands and watch faces. Android smartwatches, on the other hand, come in tons of styles and brands (Samsung, Google Pixel Watch, Garmin, Fossil etc.), meaning you can pick a round watch, a rugged design or a luxury-looking model.
If battery life is important to you, the Apple Watch lasts about a day or two per charge, depending on usage and model. Many Android smartwatches (especially Garmin, Amazfit or Mobvoi TicWatch) last multiple days or even weeks on a single charge.
LEBANON, Tenn., October 29, 2023 (Newswire.com)
– On Friday, in an impressive display of technological prowess, Taber Innovations Group LLC (TIG), a Las Vegas Nevada based technology company, unveiled its groundbreaking Over Watch Locator™ (OWL™) system to an enthralled audience in Lebanon, Tennessee. This event heralds a new era in safety and efficiency for first responders, offering an unparalleled level of situational awareness.
Addressing a Historical Challenge
For generations, incident commanders have faced immense challenges in maintaining accurate, real-time awareness of their teams’ positions during critical operations. The OWL™ system, underpinned by TIG’s patented LEAP™ technology, provides an answer to this long-standing problem. “OWL™ is more than just a product; it’s a reflection of our commitment to those who put their lives on the line for us daily,” commented Phil Taber, founder of TIG and a 22-year combat veteran of the USAF.
A Leap Ahead with LEAP™
TIG’s demonstration showcased OWL’s robust real-time tracking, offering incident commanders an immediate visual on team movements and positions. Its versatility extends to various professionals, from firefighters to underground workers and event safety personnel. Furthermore, the system’s interoperability fosters collaboration across services, ensuring cohesive coordination during joint operations.
Local Collaboration Proves Crucial
A highlight of Friday’s demonstration was the strong collaboration between TIG and the Lebanon Fire Department (LFD). Chief Jason Baird of Lebanon Fire Department noted, “I know for firefighters, everything needs to be simplistic, quick, and practical and [TIG] has hit all three. [LFD] is very impressed with the technology.”
Looking to the Future
With an eye on revolutionizing the protocols of over 30,000 municipal fire departments nationwide, TIG aims to not only introduce this groundbreaking tech but also foster continued engagement with its data storage and Visualized Incident Replay system.
Join the Revolution
Taber Innovations Group extends an invitation to potential investors and collaborators keen on participating in a transformative journey, ensuring the safety and amplified efficiency of our first responders. For further information, please visit https://taberinnovations.com and https://overwatchlocator.com.
April 11, 2023 – The 30-second commercial, part of the government’s We Can Do This campaign, shows everyday people going about their lives, then reminds them that, “Because COVID is still out there and so are you,” it might be time to update your vaccine.
But in real life, the message that COVID-19 is still a major concern is muffled if not absent for many. Many data tracking sources, both federal and others, are no longer reporting, as often, the number of COVID cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in February stopped updating its public COVID data site, instead directing all queries to the CDC, which itself has been updating only weekly instead of daily since last year.
Nongovernmental sources, such as John Hopkins University, stopped reporting pandemic data in March, The New York Times also ended its COVID data-gathering project last month, stating that “the comprehensive real-time reporting that The Times has prioritized is no longer possible.” It will rely on reporting weekly CDC data moving forward.
Along with the tracking sites, masking and social distancing mandates have mostly disappeared. President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan bill on Monday that ended the national emergency for COVID. While some programs will stay in place for now, such as free vaccines, treatments, and tests, that too will go away when the federal public health emergency expires on May 11. The HHS already has issued its transition roadmap.
Many Americans, meanwhile, are still on the fence about the pandemic. A Gallup poll from March shows that about half of the American public says it’s over, and about half disagree.
Are we closing up shop on COVID-19 too soon, or is it time? Not surprisingly, experts don’t agree. Some say the pandemic is now endemic – which broadly means the virus and its patterns are predictable and steady in designated regions – and that it’s critical to catch up on health needs neglected during the pandemic, such as screenings and other vaccinations
But others don’t think it’s reached that stage yet, saying that we are letting our guard down too soon and we can’t be blind to the possibility of another strong variant – or pandemic – emerging. Surveillance must continue, not decline, and be improved.
Time to Move On?
In its transition roadmap released in February, the HHS notes that daily COVID reported cases are down over 90%, compared to the peak of the Omicron surge at the end of January 2022; deaths have declined by over 80%; and new hospitalizations due to COVID have dropped by nearly 80%.
It is time to move on, said Ali Mokdad, PhD, a professor and chief strategy officer of population health at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.
“Many people were delaying a lot of medical care, because they were afraid” during COVID’s height, he said, explaining that elective surgeries were postponed, prenatal care went down, as did screenings for blood pressure and diabetes.
His institute was tracking COVID projections every week but stopped in December.
As for emerging variants, “we haven’t seen a variant that scares us since Omicron” in November 2021, said Mokdad, who agrees that COVID is endemic now. The subvariants that followed it are very similar, and the current vaccines are working.
“We can move on, but we cannot drop the ball on keeping an eye on the genetic sequencing of the virus,” he said. That will enable quick identification of new variants.
If a worrisome new variant does surface, Mokdad said, certain locations and resources will be able to gear up quickly, while others won’t be as fast, but overall the U.S. is in a much better position now.
Amesh Adalja, MD, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security in Baltimore, also believes the pandemic phase is behind us
“This can’t be an emergency in perpetuity,” he said “Just because something is not a pandemic [anymore] does not mean that all activities related to it cease.”
COVID is highly unlikely to overwhelm hospitals again, and that was the main reason for the emergency declaration, he said.
“It’s not all or none — collapsing COVID-related [monitoring] activities into the routine monitoring that is done for other infectious disease should be seen as an achievement in taming the virus,” he said.
Not Endemic Yet
Closing up shop too early could mean we are blindsided, said Rajendram Rajnarayanan, PhD, an assistant dean of research and associate professor at the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
Already, he said, large labs have closed or scaled down as testing demand has declined, and many centers that offered community testing have also closed. Plus, home test results are often not reported.
Continued monitoring is key, he said. “You have to maintain a base level of sequencing for new variants,” he said. “Right now, the variant that is ‘top dog’ in the world is XBB.1.16.”
That’s an Omicron subvariant that the World Health Organization is currently keeping its eye on, according to a media briefing on March 29. There are about 800 sequences of it from 22 countries, mostly India, and it’s been in circulation a few months.
Rajnarayanan said he’s not overly worried about this variant, but surveillance must continue. His own breakdown of XBB.1.16 found the subvariant in 27 countries, including the U.S., as of April 10.
Ideally, Rajnarayanan would suggest four areas to keep focusing on, moving forward:
Active, random surveillance for new variants, especially in hot spots
Hospital surveillance and surveillance of long-term care, especially in congregate settings where people can more easily spread the virus
Surveillance of animals such as mink and deer, because these animals can not only pick up the virus, but the virus can mutate in the animals, which could then transmit it back to people
With less testing, baseline surveillance for new variants has declined. The other three surveillance areas need improvement, too, he said, as the reporting is often delayed.
Continued surveillance is crucial, agreed Katelyn Jetelina, PhD, an epidemiologist and data scientist who publishes a newsletter, Your Local Epidemiologist, updating developments in COVID and other pressing health issues.
“It’s a bit ironic to have a date for the end of a public health emergency; viruses don’t care about calendars,” said Jetelina, who is also director of population health analytics for the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute. “COVID-19 is still going to be here, it’s still going to mutate,” she said, and still cause grief for those affected. “I’m most concerned about our ability to track the virus. It’s not clear what surveillance we will still have in the states and around the globe.”
For surveillance, she calls wastewater monitoring “the lowest-hanging fruit.” That’s because it “is not based on bias testing and has the potential to help with other outbreaks, too.” Hospitalization data is also essential, she said, as that information is the basis for public health decisions on updated vaccines and other protective measures.
While Jetelina is hopeful that COVID will someday be universally viewed as endemic, with predictable seasonal patterns, “I don’t think we are there yet. We still need to approach this virus with humility; that’s at least what I will continue to do.”
Rajnarayanan agreed that the pandemic has not yet reached endemic phase, though the situation is much improved. “Our vaccines are still protecting us from severe disease and hospitalization, and [the antiviral drug] Paxlovid is a great tool that works.”
Keeping Tabs
While some data tracking has been eliminated, not all has, or will be. The CDC, as mentioned, continues to post cases, deaths, and a daily average of new hospital admissions weekly. The World Health Organization’s dashboard tracks deaths, cases, and vaccine doses globally.
In March, the WHO updated its working definitions and tracking system for SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and variants of interest, with goals of evaluating the sublineages independently and to classify new variants more clearly when that’s needed.
Some public companies are staying vigilant. The drugstore chain Walgreens said it plans to maintain its COVID-19 Index, which launched in January 2022.
“Data regarding spread of variants is important to our understanding of viral transmission and, as new variants emerge, it will be critical to continue to track this information quickly to predict which communities are most at risk,” Anita Patel, PharmD, vice president of pharmacy services development for Walgreens, said in a statement.
The data also reinforces the importance of vaccinations and testing in helping to stop the spread of COVID-19, she said.
It’s not just productivity, it’s also perception of productivity.
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New research suggests which generations are most—and least—productive. But productivity is largely perception, and perception is reality. Your success will depend not just on how well you perform, but also on whether you’re perceived as a great performer.
With the trend toward quiet quitting, there is focus on whether people are productive and who’s pulling their weight—so your work may be under a microscope more than usual. Knowing this, you can use some specific strategies to be sure your great gets noticed without bragging, boasting or being arrogant.
Frustrated Colleagues
First, know that performance matters not just to your employer, but also to your coworkers. A study by LLC demonstrates that if you’re not pulling your weight it shows, and it annoys the people around you.
42% of respondents say, laziness and a poor work ethic are some of the biggest annoyances, second only to complaining
62% are annoyed by the trend to do the bare minimum to get by
57% have noticed a colleague who is doing the bare minimum
A study by LiveCareer found 71% of people believed others are lazy and 70% have criticized a coworker for doing minimum levels of work to get by. And 75% believe a trend toward people not doing their fair share hurts productivity.
One of the problems with doing as little is as possible is that it puts additional pressure on teammates. The LLC research found 57% say they’ve had to take on more work because others are doing the minimum in their jobs. And the generations most annoyed by those who don’t pull their weight are Baby Boomers and Gen Xers. This matters since often it’s these generations who are in more senior roles and who make decisions about rewards, promotions or career advancement. Doing too little could be career-limiting, especially with companies which are trimming and the job market which is tightening.
Perceptions About Productivity
Unfortunately, productivity is also perception, and people in the LLC study tended to judge generations for their productivity. When respondents were asked who is least productive, 51% said Gen Z followed by 24% who said Baby Boomers and 18% who said Millennials. Only 7% said Gen X.
Of course, the differences between individuals are more meaningful than differences between groups, and overgeneralization can be damaging—but it’s good to know what you might be up against in terms of perceptions.
Actually doing great work is the first step in getting recognized for it.
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Get Your Work Noticed
If you’re doing great work and no one notices, it may not help you. At the same time, people become frustrated by those who seek the limelight or who boast about their work—so you have to find appropriate ways to let your work shine while also ensuring you’re not overshadowing others.
#1 – Do Great Work
The first rule of getting noticed for doing great work is actually doing great work. The best approach isn’t to fake it. While a mouse jiggler (which simulates the movement of a computer mouse) may seem like a good idea to satisfy your company’s surveillance technology while you take a nap, it isn’t. Likewise, waking up to send an early email to make it look like you’ve been working for hours, also won’t fly. People will see through these tactics rather quickly. Avoid productivity theater and put your creative thinking toward your work, rather than toward creating the illusion of work.
Perhaps the best reasons to authentically perform well are for your own sense of esteem. You’ll have a greater sense of meaning and confidence, knowing you’re putting your best efforts forward. In fact, the LiveCareer study found 84% of people believed work was a primary way you feel value as a person. In addition, you’ll learn more by diving in and taking initiative. And you’ll feel more connected to others by making an important contribution to your team and your community. Legitimately performing well is good for you as well as those around you. It’s the place to start.
Also consider “recency error” which is a cognitive bias where people draw conclusions not based on an objective sense of everything that’s occurred, but with a greater emphasis on what’s happened lately. You’ll need to perform well consistently because people have short memories. With all the information coming at people all the time, your most recent contributions will be most notable.
#2 – Be Impactful
To get noticed for your results, you’ll also need to seek our important work. Volunteer for projects which are priorities for your organization and take initiative when you see a something that can be improved. Being proactive and enthusiastic about your engagement sends positive messages about how much you’re paying attention, invested and committed to shared goals.
But also do windows. Sometimes, people try and avoid less glamorous tasks believing they are below them or because they’re seeking more visible efforts. But doing only the high-profile work will get you labeled as a prima donna. All jobs include some variation of “doing windows,” the elements of the role which aren’t fancy, but which are necessary. When you do everything with excellence, you pave the way toward people seeing your commitment to excellence. When you attend to the seemingly less important details, people will trust you with the more important responsibilities as well.
You’ll also need to emphasize your outcomes, not just your activities. If you’re working on problems with your supplier, tell your boss about the ways the team plans to test solutions and how quickly you will reduce lead times, not how many meetings you’ve had. When you’re struggling to work through a conflict with a colleague, report on the ways you’re taking action to listen and connect, rather than on the number of emails you’ve sent to seek resolution on an issue.
Make your work visible and be a team player.
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#3 – Be Collaborative
When you want to get noticed, you’re also wise to build strong relationships with others. Show up, follow through, complete tasks and get things done when others are counting on you. Consider your own performance and also how your work impacts on others. And provide recognition and gratitude for others when you’ve accomplished something together.
When you have strong relationships, research shows you’ll be happier and more fulfilled. And when you’re focused on helping others, this too is correlated with happiness. People will appreciate your work when its quality supports their work, in turn. You’ll develop respect when people know they can count on you and trust that you’ll do what you say.
Also nurture your network. Build connections, seek mentors and ask for feedback from colleagues. Strong social capital provides you with opportunities to help others and to ask for help. It provides you with sources of advice and access to new ideas and coaching so you can do your best. When you know more people across the organization, you can support them, and you also build greater credibility because of the critical mass of people who know and appreciate the value of your work.
#4 – Be Accountable
To get credit for your efforts, you will also be wise to ensure you are reinforcing accountability and tracking your work effectively. Especially with more remote work and greater distance from your leader or your team, people won’t be able to see you working, and more companies are monitoring employees’ work. One report estimated 80% of the largest privately held companies use tracking technology, and a report from Gartner estimated 70% of large firms would use monitoring technology in the next three years.
While it may be frustrating if you’re organization is using surveillance technology, you can lean into the practice. When you perform well, tracking technology can offer quantitative reinforcement of your commitment. Embrace the metrics your company uses. Enter your time, track your sales calls or work your prescribed hours. You would do good work anyway, so tell yourself these are just ways your company will know about it.
In addition, you can also manage your own narrative. Design your own system of tracking and measuring your work, establish regular connection meetings with your boss and share your great work using a method that works for you. Perhaps you have a spreadsheet of all the customers you impact week-to-week or maybe in each session with your leader you share five things you’ve accomplished and two areas in which you need guidance to keep doing good work.
#5 – Be Intentional
Finally, when you’re seeking recognition for your efforts, be smart about how you work. Keep your promises and do things within the agreed-upon timeframes. In general, do things sooner, rather than later. If you commit to follow up after a meeting without a date, it will be more meaningful and memorable for people if they receive your follow up within a week, rather than much later. Put reminders on your calendar if there are things you need to do in the future.
Get things done more effectively by reducing distractions and staying focused on outcomes. Break down responsibilities so you can experience progress on smaller tasks over time. Avoid perfectionism which can get in the way of getting things completed. You’ll have tactics which are unique to you and which work best for you, but overall, be intentional about how you work and how you accomplish results.
In Sum
Perception is reality, and productivity is perception. But you don’t have to be an expert at creating the illusion of productivity or engaging in productivity theater. These will actually work to your disadvantage. Instead, focus on doing your best and bringing your best—so you benefit and so the people around you do as well. These will be the surest ways to get noticed for your great work.
Two fathers teamed up to create a proactive approach to safety – and their kids approve
Press Release –
updated: Aug 2, 2019
FORT MYERS, Fla., August 2, 2019 (Newswire.com)
– All parents know that there’s absolutely no greater priority than the safety and security of their child. That’s why fathers, and brothers, Dallas and Anthony Vasquez teamed up to create the iGPS Wizard Watch. It’s a wearable tracking and communication device that provides invaluable peace of mind to parents, knowing they can locate, contact, monitor, and protect their child when they’re away from home.
The iGPS Wizard Watch is cellular, GPS, and WiFi-enabled, and works seamlessly with the accompanying parent app. Parents will enjoy consistent, reliable coverage and rest easy knowing their child’s whereabouts at all times. Meanwhile, the other benefit of the iGPS Wizard Watch is that it’s really empowering for children. It gives them a newfound sense of independence to safely explore the world around them.
“I’m so proud of this technology and hope that other parents value it as much as my own family does,” said Dallas Vasquez, CEO, iGPS Watch. “My kids are growing up fast, and I can’t always be right beside them, but knowing they’re safe, and having the ability to reach each other with the touch of a button, has really been a game-changer for us.”
The iGPS Wizard Watch is currently available in five popular colors and comes ready to go with a pre-installed SIM card. The playful touchscreen interface and colorful, comfortable wristband makes it enjoyable to wear.
Features of the iGPS Wizard Watch include:
Parents can pinpoint their child’s current location with live GPS tracking to give them more freedom during playtimes or that added layer of protection when traveling through crowded spaces. Parents will appreciate continuous notifications regarding the locations and activities of their children.
All parents know that children tend to wander. With the GPS geofencing feature, parents can create “Safe Play” and “Stay Away” zones, and will receive an alert if their child ventures out of the designated safe area.
Parents are never more than a call away from their children. The accompanying parent app also allows parents to add up to 11 phone numbers that their child can call.
Parents can use voice and text messaging to reach their child anytime, anywhere.
In case of an emergency, the child can push the one-touch SOS Button. This will alert their parents of their exact location and activate the emergency contact auto-dialer, which will begin calling the contacts on their call list. If the watch is ever removed, parents will receive a removal alert immediately.
The “Take Me Home Mapping” feature will guide the child safely home with step-by-step directions.
The iGPS Wizard Watch helps foster a sense of responsibility and helps keep kids on track with their daily routines. Parents can use the watch’s scheduler feature to set reminders that can be checked off once completed.
The iGPS Wizard has a built-in pedometer that counts the child’s steps each day. This is an excellent way to promote a healthy, active lifestyle. The device history is also stored for seven days to help parents monitor changes in their child’s daily routines.
The iGPS Wizard Watch retails for $119.95, and there is a one-time activation fee of $15. After that, service is $14.95 a month and does not require a contract. iGPS provides complete customer care and a frustration-free experience.
About iGPS Wizard Watch The iGPS Wizard Watch is a wearable tracking and communication device designed for children 3-13 years old. It lets parents contact, locate, monitor, and protect their loved ones when they’re away from home. Parents can pinpoint their child’s current location with live GPS tracking, and use voice and text messaging and two-way calling to reach their child anytime, anywhere. For more information, visit www.igpswatch.com and follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest for the latest news and trends.
